IEAI Open Seminar and Services Expo 2026 started at India Expo Mart, Greater Noida

The 15th IEIA Open Seminar & Exhibition Services Expo 2026 in Greater Noida has opened with a strong focus on India’s tourism and exhibition industry as engines of economic growth.

Tourism Vision
- Mr. Suman Billa (Ministry of Tourism & Culture) announced India’s goal to double tourism’s GDP contribution from 5% to 10% over the next decade.
- Growth drivers include:
- Doubling airports to 150 since 2014
- Expanding rail/road infrastructure
- Shifting focus from sheer visitor numbers (1.5 billion domestic visits) to high-value travel and revenue generation
- He emphasized the need for three times current hotel room capacity to meet demand.

Exhibition Industry Transformation
- Mr. Jawed Ashraf (ITPO Chairman) highlighted exhibitions as economic engines, not just promotional platforms.
- India aims to become a global trade and exhibition hub, leveraging:
- Manufacturing expansion
- Startup ecosystem
- MSMEs gaining visibility through world-class expos
- Technology is reshaping exhibitions with AI matchmaking, hybrid formats, and data analytics.

Scale & Impact
- The event hosts 1,200+ industry leaders and delegates, making it the largest gathering in India’s exhibition sector.
- Mr. Sooraj Dhawan (IEIA President) noted the global MICE industry (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) is projected to grow from USD 870B to USD 1.4T by 2030, with India emerging as a key player.

Strategic Outlook
- Free Trade Agreements and international collaboration are seen as crucial to positioning India as a major exhibition hub.
- The Expo is a platform for CEOs, trade bodies, government officials, and innovators to forge partnerships and unlock growth.